1.Translation inevitably obscures Xenophon’s adoption of the formula used in recording distances in the Persian empire, so many ‘stathmi’ and so many ‘parasangs’. Stathmi (stages) were, properly, the halting-places at the end of a day’s journey. On the great Persian trunk roads there were guard-houses and lodging places at suitable intervals, around which there might be a settlement (cf. Herodotus V.52, VI.119, VIII.98.2), but Xenophon’s use of the term does not necessarily denote a formally established halting-place.Parasang was, properly, a Persian measure of time, not of distance, but, since the distance covered in a parasang did not vary greatly, the Greeks treated it as a measure of distance. Herodotus (II.6) equated it with thirty stades, i.e. about 3.4 miles. Since stathmi were made where water etc. allowed, the number of parasangs to the next stathmos varied even page when the terrain remained much the same.

2.The route through Celaenae was by no means the most direct for Cyrus, but presumably he took the southerly detour to support his pretence of attacking the Pisidians.

3. The main roads were paved (cf. R. Ghirshman, Iran, p. I4sf.). Cyrus the Great could be alleged to have transported huge towers on wheels against Lydia (Education of Cyrus VI.1. 52f). The road through the Cilician Gates was very constricted, but normally there must have been passing places. At III.2.24 Xenophon implies that roads were not normally wide enough to take a four-horse chariot, i.e. four horses abreast. For importance of waggons cf. I.10.18,1.7.20, III.2.27, and 3.1. The Spartans regularly took waggons with them (Xenophon, Constitution of the Spartans 11.2, Thuc. V.72.3). Xenophon in the Education of Cyrus (VI.2.30-38) gives a good idea of how much equipment had to go ob waggons. Beasts of burden allowed deviation, but carried less. Hence the importance of roads

4. The Syennesis (hereditary title of the native rulers of Cilicia) played a double game, sending his wife to profess friendship with Cyrus and making as if to block his progress. Cf. Ctesias Fr.16 and Diod. XIV.20.3 for his warning message to Artaxerxes. If Menon had not entered Cilicia, he would have been free to hold the Cilician Gates and stay loyal to Artaxerxes.